XV
Arthur Rackham's Rip Van Winkle
Since youth is wise, and cannot comprehend
Proportion, nor behold things as they are,
Φιλοθεάμονϵς we'll be, my friend,
And laugh at what appears quadrangular,
Our only Gods shall be the Subterrane,
Pictures of things misshapen, harsh and crude,
The flattened Face outside the window-pane,
The little Squeak behind us in the wood.
Here, friend, are subtly drawn uncommon things:
Make such your Gods: they only understand.
Only a Headless Wag with slimy wings
Can stop your toothache and the Dentist's hand.
Though after twenty years they may not please,
Sane men have worshipped stranger Gods than these.
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